Leadership Development
AASCU’s leadership development programs are timely, relevant, and solutions-driven. Our programs reimagine leadership to help higher education professionals navigate disruption with agility and courage, create a campus culture where students, faculty and staff feel connected and accepted, and recognize that institutions are not only centers of learning but also engines of economic development and community transformation.
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Chart Your Course. Transform Your Impact.
AASCU is shaping the future of higher education by equipping leaders of regional public universities with the transformative mindsets, strategic skillsets, and innovative tools needed to navigate complexity and lead with purpose.
We believe leadership is a journey — one that’s deeply personal, purpose-driven, and constantly evolving. Our programs are designed to meet leaders where they are and empower them to navigate complexity, drive institutional transformation, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re preparing for your next role or reimagining your current one, we’re here to help you lead with clarity, courage, and conviction.
Explore our comprehensive suite of offerings, carefully tailored to support leaders at every stage of their career journey; from rising stars among faculty and staff to aspiring and new provosts and presidents.
Explore opportunities to advance to senior roles in higher education.
Develop critical skills for leading your department as an institutional citizen.
Gain insights into critical focus areas for provosts and the position’s broader impact within the sector.
Join a dynamic community of first-time provosts leading state colleges and universities.
Learn tactical ways to lead institutional transformation for student success.
Explore a career path toward the presidency or other executive level roles in higher education.
Build the skillset and mindset to advance to a presidency.
Gain a community of support and practical orientation to the presidency.
A meaningful, supportive space for all of our dynamic spouses and partners to flourish.
Our personalized leadership development programming produces transformative results.
Campus administrators leave our programs energized and ready to take on the challenges that come with their critical roles. AASCU’s highly regarded leadership development programs for aspiring and new presidents and chancellors help leaders gain critical skills and strategies to navigate complex higher education landscapes. Programs are also available to strengthen your senior leadership team, emerging leaders, and to support spouses and partners.
AASCU leadership development programs are based on the following foundational principles:
- Mentorship and Coaching: Each program includes a mentoring component, rallying the talents, generosity, and expertise of AASCU members and renowned higher education leaders who share our commitment to investing in the next generation.
- Community-Building: All programs create opportunities for networking, peer-to-peer learning, and alumni engagement.
- Peer-to-Peer Learning: Each program includes opportunities to “call a friend” and engage in structured conversations where participants gain insight from their fellow participants’ knowledge and learned experience.
- Applied Learning and Practice: Programs encourage participants to apply concepts in real-time through simulations, case studies, and institutional projects that bridge theory and practice.
- Wellness: AASCU is deeply committed to creating an environment that facilitates open, honest dialogue and opportunities for structured reflection about each participant’s work as well as the higher education landscape.
- Policy: AASCU leadership programs leverage the expertise of our Government Relations and Policy Analysis team to keep members abreast of policies affecting public higher education.
- Helping Students Achieve Their Goals: All AASCU leadership programs reflect our commitment to advancing social and economic mobility for students of all backgrounds; it is at the heart of every learning outcome.
- Individual Transformation: All programs are designed to support participants in their individual journey, whether that is leading from where they are or transitioning to the next role.
- Institutional Transformation: All programs will engage participants in their institution’s most ambitious goals, preparing them to lead transformative change on campus.
- Accountability: AASCU leadership programs provide participants with a plan of action and a system of accountability to keep moving toward their career goals.
1100+
campus leaders have participated in one or more of AASCU’s leadership development programs since 2020.
150
member institutions were represented across leadership development cohorts in the 2025-26 academic year.
65
current presidents/chancellors of member institutions participated in at least one AASCU leadership development program.
Testimonial
“NPA is an absolute must for all new college and university presidents. The depth of knowledge of the faculty and laser focus on mission critical best practices for success are extremely valuable. The intentionality and rich diversity of the NPA faculty and cohort members also speaks volumes about AASCU’s preeminent role in shaping the future of higher education.”
Latest News & Resources
Get to know the AASCU members who are committed to your success.
Learn more about the Committee on Professional Development.
The Committee on Professional Development serves as an advisory group to create meaningful communities of experience for member presidents and support AASCU leadership development programs focused on building leadership capacity.
Applications are open for upcoming 2026-2027 leadership development programs.
Apply or endorse candidates for the Becoming a Provost Academy, Emerging Leaders Program, Executive Leadership Academy, and Millennium Leadership Initiative.
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